FL National Guard Soldier Faces Court Martial

May 16, 2004 at 10:36 PM EST - Updated June 27 at 6:23 AM

A Florida National Guard soldier who left his unit in Iraq is facing a court martial at Fort Stewart. Court proceedings against 28 year old Staff Sergeant Camilo Mejia are expected to begin Wednesday, May 19th at 9:00 a.m.

Mejia was with the First Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment. He went AWOL during a two-week break in the United States last October. If he's convicted on desertion charges, he could go to prison for a year and be discharged from the Army for bad conduct.

Mejia surrendered in Hinesville on March 17th. He calls the war unjustified and wants to be classified as a conscientious objector. he also claims he saw Iraqi prisoners being treated with great cruelty.